Atmos

A curated gathering hosted by Atmos during Climate Week NYC and set in the stunning, newly renovated Frick Collection. The evening features an inspiring, solutions-oriented program centered on ocean conservation and cultural storytelling—featuring thought-provoking panels, film screenings, visual art, and special performances inspired by the sea. The event will conclude with a cocktail reception in the Garden Court and private viewing of the museum.

Program

7 p.m.  – DOORS OPEN

7:30 p.m. – Evening Program

Co-hosted by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Theresa Perez of Atmos with program to feature:

Exclusive film screening excerpt, with live musical accompaniment by Michael Prince: Narrated by Woody Harrelson, KULEANA takes you on a cinematic journey deep into the heart of the plastic crisis – set against one of the most ecologically and spiritually powerful places on Earth: Hawai`i

Panel Talk Exploring Ocean Conservation Through Science, Story, and Law with David Gruber & Cesar Rodriguez-Garavito, and Aperahama Edwards moderated by Willow Defebaugh

Fragments of Blue: Hope in the Age of Collapse, with photographer, author and SeaLegacy Co-founder, Cristina Mittermeier.

Where passion meets purpose: Protect Where We Play, Presentation with Ocean Conservancy’s bold initiative to turn our passion for sports and entertainment into action for our ocean.

Solutions & Community Action: Highlighting innovative solutions and community efforts for the future of coastal cities with Daphne Lundi, Managing Director of Urban Ocean Lab.

Special live performance with musician and composer Garth Stevenson

9-11 p.m.  – Cocktail reception in the Garden Court, private museum viewing for guests

Featured guests & speakers

Ayana Elizabeth Johnson | Co-Host

Marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and teacher

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Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and teacher working to help create the best possible climate future. She co-­founded and leads Urban Ocean Lab, a think tank for the future of coastal cities, and is the Roux Distinguished Scholar at Bowdoin College. Ayana authored The New York Times bestseller What If We Get it Right?: Visions of Climate Futures, work that is carried on with her newsletter and podcast of the same name. Previously, she co-edited the bestselling anthology All We Can Save, co-created and co-­hosted the Spotify/Gimlet podcast How to Save a Planet, and co-­authored the Blue New Deal, a roadmap for including the ocean in climate policy. Ayana earned a BA in environmental science and public policy from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in marine biology from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. She serves on the board of directors for Patagonia and GreenWave, and on the advisory board of Environmental Voter Project. Above all: Ayana is in love with climate solutions.

ayanaelizabeth.com

Cristina Mittermeier | Presenter

Photographer, Author and Co-Founder | SeaLegacy

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Cristina Mittermeier is a marine biologist, photographer, and activist who has transformed ocean conservation through powerful visual storytelling. She coined the term conservation photography and co-founded SeaLegacy, a global movement using imagery to drive ocean advocacy. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, TIME, and The New York Times, and she starred in Photographer, the Peabody Award-winning, Emmy-nominated 2024 series. A National Geographic Adventurer of the Year, Sony Artisan, and Rolex Perpetual Planet ambassador, Cristina is also a sought-after speaker and Cultural Leader for the World Economic Forum, championing hope and action for our blue planet.

cristinamittermeier.com sealegacy.org

David Gruber | Panelist

President & Founder | Project CETI

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David Gruber is the Founder & President of Project CETI, a nonprofit organization and interdisciplinary scientific and conservation initiative that is applying advanced machine learning and gentle robotics to translate the communication of sperm whales. CETI has made pioneering scientific findings including elucidating a sperm whale phonetic alphabet and sperm whale vowels and diphthongs. David is a National Geographic Explorer and Distinguished Professor of Biology at City University of New York, Baruch College and the CUNY Graduate Center. His research bridges multiple disciplines and his inventions include technologies to perceive the underwater world from the perspective of marine animals.

projectceti.org/ Instagram

César Rodríguez-Garavito | Panelist

Professor of Law, New York University | Director, The Earth Rights Research and Action (TERRA) Program | Director, More-than-Human Life

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César Rodríguez-Garavito is an Earth rights scholar, field lawyer, and founding director of the MOTH (More-Than-Human Life) Program at NYU School of Law. He is a Professor of Law and Director of the Earth Rights Research & Action (TERRA) Clinic at NYU. César’s work has advanced new ideas and legal actions worldwide on issues such as climate justice, Indigenous rights, and what he proposes to call “more-than-human rights” (rights of nature). His contributions to Earth rights have been recognized with a More-Than-Human Fellowship by the London Design Museum and a spot in the UN Museum’s Top 10 Culture for Impact 2024 List.

mothrights.org Instagram

Aperahama Edwards | Panelist

​Chairman | Ngātiwai Trust Board

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Te tangi a Tukaiaia paorooro kau ana ki nga paringa o Te Akau Roa o Ngātiwai. He reo mihi, he reo whakamiha, he reo whakaoho. Kati, e ngā mana, e ngā tapu, ngā ihi, ngā wehi anei ra te reo mihi o Ngātiwai ka tukua ra ki a koutou. Aperahama Edwards serves as Chairman of the Ngātiwai Trust Board, where he is dedicated to advancing the wellbeing and prosperity of his tribal nation, Ngātiwai. He is recognized across Aotearoa as a strong leader in the revitalization of Indigenous language and cultural practices. He currently holds several significant leadership roles, including chair and spokesperson for the northern region of Te Mātāwai (the national Māori language revitalization body); co-chair of the National Iwi Chairs Forum cultural leadership group; and co-chair of Hinemoana Halo, an ocean conservation and resilience initiative. Aperahama carries ancestral ties to the Indigenous nations of Ngātiwai, Ngāti Kahungunu, Tainui, and Ngāpuhi, and works tirelessly to uphold and strengthen Indigenous knowledge, language, and environmental stewardship for future generations.

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Willow Defebaugh | Moderator

Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder | Atmos

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Willow Defebaugh is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Atmos, an award-winning climate and culture magazine that seeks to re-enchant people with our shared humanity and the Earth. She is the author of The Overview, a deep ecology newsletter and book, and host of The Nature Of podcast by Atmos. She is a lifelong student of nature and graduated with a degree in creative writing from the University of Michigan. Her work has been featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Teen Vogue, V Magazine, Interview, i-D, BBC, The Guardian, Them, New York Magazine, and more. She lives in Brooklyn on unceded Lenape territory.

atmos.earth Instagram

Theresa Perez | Co-Host

Executive Director | Atmos

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Theresa Perez serves as Executive Director of award-winning media organization Atmos. With expertise spanning music and business, she has built a distinguished career across creative agencies, arts and technology ventures, and artist management. Her experience includes international touring collaborations with multi-Grammy Award-winning artists and partnerships with entrepreneurs across diverse industries. Based in the greater New York City area, she lives with her wife, daughter, and cats Lola and Lumi.

atmos.earth Instagram

Garth Stevenson | Performer

Musican and Composer

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Garth Stevenson is a double bassist and composer known for creating music in direct communion with the natural world. On a 2010 expedition to Antarctica with biologist Dr. Roger Payne, Garth imitated whale calls on his double bass, attracting a dozen sei whales to their icebreaker. In 2025 he traveled to Baja, Mexico to play for humpback whales. Standing on a small fishing boat, Stevenson played his bass live through underwater speakers while listening to the underwater sound of humpbacks through hydrophones, creating an environment where they could hear and respond to each other. These interactions were captured by National Geographic director Andy Mann for an installation at the Museum of Natural History in Mexico City.

garthstevenson.com Instagram

Jenna DiPaolo | Presenter

Chief Brand and Communications Officer | Ocean Conservancy

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Jenna leads Ocean Conservancy's efforts to build and strengthen its reputation, influence, and brand visibility to increase conservation impact. She lead the Protect Where We Play initiative, which aims to tap into the collective joy people feel for sports and entertainment to bring in new, younger and more diverse ocean advocates. She's a skilled strategist and communicator who's passionate about human rights, our planet, and climate solutions.

protectwhereweplay.com LinkedIn

Nick Mallos | Presenter

Vice President | Conservation, Ocean Plastics at Ocean Conservancy

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Nicholas Mallos is vice president of Conservation, Ocean Plastics at Ocean Conservancy, where he oversees the organization’s global portfolio of work on plastic pollution. He’s conducted research in more than 40 countries on all aspects of plastic pollution, from the Arctic Circle to the Coral Triangle, and within the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” He’s testified before the U.S. Senate on plastic pollution and is Ocean Conservancy’s head of delegation at the U.N. Global Plastics Treaty negotiations. He’s a Board Member for the Marine Debris Foundation and The Recycling Partnership and holds degrees from Dickinson College and Duke University.

oceanconservancy.org LinkedIn

Georgia Scott | Presenter

Founder/CEO | GROUNDTRUTH Global and Director/Producer | KULEANA

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Georgia is an award-winning investigative documentary filmmaker who has spent over a decade directing and producing films that humanize some of the world’s most urgent issues, from conflict-affected communities to environmental crises. Her work is defined by a deeply immersive approach, grounded in truth and empathy. In 2017, she co-founded GROUNDTRUTH Global with the mission of breaking through the traditional framework of business. Georgia is now pioneering a collaborative and impact-driven model, bringing together scientists, engineers, designers, and environmental advocates to push the limits of what’s possible.

groundtruth.global LinkedIn

Michael Prince | Performer

Kuleana Composer

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For more than 18 years, Michael Prince has searched for the perfect intersection between all genres of music and has experimented with how they interact with one another. He not only considers himself a classical violinist, but also a jazz, hip-hop, pop, and R&B violinist. He records, produces, and performs on stages across the country, bringing awareness to an instrument that is often neglected in popular music. Michael Prince graduated in May of 2023 from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in music in violin performance. That same year, he founded Hood Orchestra, a nonprofit that seeks to bridge the gaps in the music education system in underserved communities across the world.

michaelprinceviolin.com Instagram

Daphne Lundi | Presenter

Managing Director | Urban Ocean Lab

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Daphne Lundi is an urban planner and climate policymaker whose work bridges environmental justice, community resilience, and design. She is the managing director of Urban Ocean Lab and previously served as a deputy director at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice. Daphne has also worked at the NYC Department of City Planning and FEMA on post–Hurricane Sandy recovery and neighborhood planning. Her civic commitments include co-founding BlackSpace, serving on the board of the Center for Zero Waste Design, and advising the Octavia Project. A Brooklyn native with Haitian roots, she is also a writer, avid cyclist, and self-taught garment maker.

urbanoceanlab.org LinkedIn

Sponsors & partners

Future Being

futurebeing.earth

GROUNDTRUTH

groundtruthproductions.com

Ocean Conservancy

oceanconservancy.org

Rootless

getrootless.com

Nautilus

nautil.us

Sea Legacy

sealegacy.org

MOTH

mothrights.org

Project CETI

projectceti.org

Urban Ocean Lab

urbanoceanlab.org

Take Action: Support a Living Ocean

Be part of the Blue Renaissance by supporting the organizations, artists, and leaders shaping a just and vibrant future for our ocean. Explore the actions below:

Learn & Be Inspired

• Ayana Elizabeth Johnson → Read What If We Get It Right? & listen to the podcast
• Cristina Mittermeier → Explore her book Hope and visit her NYC exhibition

Support Bold Ocean Work

• GroundTruth Productions → Support storytelling for our planet
• Ocean Conservancy’s → “Protect Where We Play”
• Urban Ocean Lab → Support climate policy for coastal cities
• Sea Legacy → Fuel visual storytelling for ocean conservation
• Project CETI → Help decode whale communication
• Moth Rights → Protect fragile species and ecosystems

Read & Stay Connected

• Nautilus Magazine → Subscribe and explore stories of science, culture, and the deep

Invest in Culture & Climate Media

• Atmos → Make a donation to support Atmos’ mission

Every action, big or small, helps weave a future where people and planet can thrive together.

The Blue Renaissance is a curated gathering hosted by Atmos during Climate Week NYC and set in the stunning, newly renovated Frick Collection. The evening features an inspiring, solutions-oriented program centered on ocean conservation and cultural storytelling—featuring thought-provoking panels, film screenings, visual art, and special performances inspired by the sea. The event will conclude with a cocktail reception in the Garden Court and private viewing of the museum.

Expect thought-provoking discussions, immersive experiences, and captivating performances that celebrate the beauty of our oceans and inspire meaningful change.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to be part of a truly special evening.

Contact blue_renaissance@atmos.earth with event questions.